With new threats emerging and long-standing ones still an issue, it pays to know how to protect your small business from cybercrime. Two thirds of small businesses have fallen victim to cybercrime in the past two years, costing the UK economy &5.26bn, according to research from the Federation of Small Businesses.
Hacking is a lucrative business. However, it’s not just about data theft: one criminal organization intercepted medicines and sold them on the black market for &200 million, because they got access to the route information.
As the pace and variety of cyber-attacks increase, we provide you with some tips on how to keep your small business safe from the criminals and hackers.
1. A supportive environment at work
Is the board on board? Security should be a top priority on their agenda and they should be constantly thinking about the worst case scenario. How could our data be vulnerable? Do we have a back-up plan? Also creating an environment where staff are confident in challenging requests that don’t look right is key. You need to build security awareness into your organization’s culture by making it part of everyone’s role. Give them responsibility, and encourage them to speak up.
2. Ensuring operating systems are updated and regularly patched
Is your manager putting off updating the system? Make sure it’s done! Operating systems have updates for a reason, not just to introduce new shiny features, but also to ensure bugs, glitches and vulnerabilities are taken care of. Have a firewall plus software too that opposes virus, spyware and phishing attacks.
3. Separate your data
The trick is to make sure you have layers between your systems. If your customer data is behind another wall, it’s safer. You want to make sure your most valuable information is hidden - even from your own employees. You don’t see bank vaults out on the street. They’re behind checkpoints, cameras and closed doors. Do the same with your data.
4. Full disk encryption on all computers
With the right forensic analysis tools, a cloned hard drive can yield a treasure trove of data, including passwords, browser history, downloaded email messages, chat logs and even old documents that may have been previously deleted.
It is therefore critical that full disk encryption technology is enabled so that all data on storage drives are scrambled. Windows users can use Microsoft’s BitLocker, which available free on the Pro version of Windows 8, or the Ultimate and Enterprise editions of Windows 7. Mac users can enable FileVault, which comes as part of the OS X operating system.